cocktail
UK: /ˈkɒk.teɪl/ | US: /ˈkɑːk.teɪl/
n. a mixed alcoholic drink, typically made with spirits and other ingredients
n. a mixture of different substances or elements
n. (historical) a horse with a docked tail (obsolete)
The word "cocktail" first appeared in early 19th-century America, originally referring to a mixed-breed horse with a docked (shortened) tail, which resembled a rooster’s tail. By the 1800s, the term was humorously applied to mixed drinks, likely due to the "mixed" or "non-pure" nature of both the horse and the beverage. The morphemes "cock" (from Old English cocc, meaning rooster) and "tail" (from Old English tægl) combine to evoke this vivid imagery of something hybrid or blended.
She ordered a fruity cocktail at the beach bar.
The party featured a cocktail of music genres, from jazz to electronic.
(Historical) The jockey rode a spirited cocktail in the race.
The scientist prepared a chemical cocktail for the experiment.
Their conversation was a cocktail of gossip and politics.